Kids grouped together smiling

Let's Go! Science Trails

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Animals, Biodiversity & Habitats, Electricity, Energy, Forces, Light, Plants, Properties & Uses of Materials, Rocks, Fossils and Soils, Seasonal Change, Sound, States of Matter

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Outdoor Learning

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5-7, 7-9, 9-12

An holistic way of looking at science in the world around us using the local environment

Outdoor learning is an important way of contextualising science and allows children to engage with the environment around them; something which cannot always be achieved in a classroom. This full colour, 80-page book has been developed by a group of teachers in the London borough of Haringey who received funding from the PSTT to develop a set of ‘Science Trails’ to make the most of outdoor areas in urban London.

The Trails were designed to be creative and innovative, using technology that would appeal to children to further enhance the trail experience. iPods, digital cameras and data loggers were suggested to improve the children’s experience on a trail and incorporate an ICT and data element to the trails in a meaningful way.

Written by PSTT Fellow Jeannette Morgan and edited by Ali Eley (PSTT Outreach Director).

The book

What's included in the book?

The book includes:

  • 29 Full Colour Trails
  • Curriculum Grid
  • Cross Curricular Links
  • Full Scientific Glossary
  • Biology, Chemistry & Physics

Each Trail provides support and ideas for outdoor learning, with a set of objectives, resources/equipment needed, and what to do whilst out on the Trail. They are all designed to be easily adaptable to your own school environment and surroundings and may even inspire you to develop Trails of your own.

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Lets go science trails cover

Page samples

Take a look inside Let's Go! Science Trails

Click on the images to see samples of pages.

Contents page

Contents

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Writing grid

Writing Grid

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Rock hunting

A Science Trail

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Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth. They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education.

David Polis, Environmentalist and Outdoor Educator

Children checking pulses

Additional resources

Seasonal Change

Seasonal Changes

Cross-curricular links.

Outdoor Learning | 5-7

Energy, Sound

Flood

Recording sheet.

Outdoor Learning | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12

Properties & Uses of Materials

Water in Our World

Ideas & information.

Outdoor Learning | 5-7, 7-9

Animals, Properties & Uses of Materials

Living & Non-living

QR codes.

Outdoor Learning | 5-7

Properties & Uses of Materials

Coat Shopping

Which coat is best to take into Narnia?

Outdoor Learning | 7-9, 9-12

Animals

Exercise

Recording sheet.

Outdoor Learning | 7-9, 9-12

Animals

Healthy Eating

Recording sheet.

Outdoor Learning | 7-9, 9-12

Animals

Keep Our Food Safe

Recording sheet.

Outdoor Learning | 7-9, 9-12

Animals

Human Lifecycle

Recording sheet.

Outdoor Learning | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12

Animals

Senses

Recording sheet.

Outdoor Learning | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12

Biodiversity & Habitats

Habitats Estate Agents

Client cards.

Outdoor Learning | 7-9, 9-12

Animals

Birds

Recording sheet.

Outdoor Learning | 7-9, 9-12

Safety Notice & Disclaimer

PSTT advises teachers to refer to either the CLEAPSS website or SSERC website for up to date health and safety information when planning practical activities for children.

PSTT is not liable for the actions or activities of any reader or anyone else who uses the information in these resource pages or the associated classroom materials. PSTT assumes no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information contained in these resources. PSTT recommends that a full risk assessment is carried out before undertaking in the classroom any of the practical investigations contained in the resources.

All materials are ©Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) and are freely available to download and share for educational purposes. Whilst educators are free to adapt the resources to suit their own needs, acknowledgement of copyright on all original materials must be included. Rights to images included in the resource have been purchased for PSTT use only – as such, these images may only be used as part of this resource and may not copied into or used in other materials.